Antique Edge Malkin & Co. “Florence” Bird & Copper Lustre Pitcher and Brush Vase Set

Details

Description

Flying birds, jewel-toned foliage and reflective copper lustre bring unusual richness to this coordinated Victorian ceramic ensemble by Edge, Malkin … Read more Flying birds, jewel-toned foliage and reflective copper lustre bring unusual richness to this coordinated Victorian ceramic ensemble by Edge, Malkin & Co. of Burslem, Staffordshire. Comprising a pitcher and companion toothbrush vase, the pair combines the Florence bird-and-botanical pattern with the maker’s distinctive Argyle form. Matching factory trademarks, dated design-registration diamonds and an accompanying handwritten estate tag give these decorative objects a documented identity.

Against warm ivory glazed earthenware, finely detailed brown transfer printing depicts birds among trailing foliage and flowers, enhanced with teal, green, yellow and warm brown color. Copper-lustre accents illuminate the modeled details, their reflective surfaces shifting through amber, rose and copper tones as the light changes. Scrolling borders finish the shaped mouths.

The sculptural construction is especially appealing. Rounded bodies rise into narrowed necks encircled by molded belts with prominent buckles. The pitcher’s angular side handle carries diagonal lustre bands and ornamental attachment details. Its companion features a fixed ceramic bridge across the opening, modeled with rope-like contours and strap details. Together, the two silhouettes offer the cohesion of a matching set with the visual interest of different forms.

Originally intended for a Victorian washstand, the toothbrush vase is an uncommon surviving form with particular appeal to collectors of Staffordshire pottery and antique bath wares. Here, its presence alongside the coordinated pitcher creates an engaging display of the attention once given to everyday domestic objects.

For an interior designer, the pair offers a compact arrangement with color, texture and historical character. Display them on an antique chest beneath a portrait, within a glazed cabinet, or on a dressing-room shelf alongside silver and linen. The ivory ground works comfortably with neutral interiors, while the teal foliage and copper lustre provide accents for English country rooms, traditional bedrooms and layered collections of European ceramics.

The Maker

Edge, Malkin & Co. operated in Burslem, Staffordshire, from approximately 1870 to 1902, succeeding Cork, Edge & Malkin. Associated with the Newport and Middleport potteries, the firm produced earthenware, transfer-decorated ceramics and lustre wares during the Victorian period.

Its original partners included Joseph Edge, William Millett Edge, John Wilcox Edge and James Malkin. The Edge family continued the established company name after the Malkin partners departed in the 1890s. Following liquidation in 1902, production at Newport continued under Samuel W. Dean.

This pair illustrates the combination of printed ornament, applied color and expressive molding that gives Victorian Staffordshire ceramics their enduring decorative appeal.

Factory Marks and Identification

Both pieces bear brown-printed seated-greyhound trademarks incorporating “TRADE MARK,” “ARGYLE,” “E.M.&Co.” and “B,” identifying Edge, Malkin & Co. of Burslem. The toothbrush vase additionally bears a “FLORENCE” pattern stamp.

Argyle identifies the distinctive body form, characterized by its rounded profile, molded belt and buckle, and ornamental handles. Florence identifies the decoration.

The British registration diamonds contain the ceramics class designation IV, day 29, year code Y and month code D, recording September 29, 1879 as the design-registration date. The vessels are offered as late-19th-century examples, circa 1880–1900.

Estate History and Accompanying Documentation

Acquired together from an estate, the set retains an old handwritten identification tag that accompanied the pieces from the previous owner’s collection. The tag reads:

“Pitcher and Tooth Brush Holder
By Edge Malkin & Co.
Burslem
Staffordshire.
Dated 9-29-1879”

The date recorded on the tag corresponds to the registration diamonds on the bases. The estate sale catalog likewise identified the pieces as antique Edge, Malkin & Co. Argyle earthenware, noting the Florence marking and iridescent belt decoration.

The handwritten tag is included with the pair. See less